Game Rai Game Rak and Superstition

Posted on November 7, 2011

I’m not the most superstitious person you’ll ever meet, but growing up in a Buddhist family and culture, superstition is something I don’t underestimate or dally with. For instance when a monk told me not to go near the beach or water in 2007, I steered clear-I prefer not to tempt fate by doing things to spite it. Or to eat food prepared for the monks prior to them having eaten it. However when it comes to taboo things like Friday the 13th or black cats crossing my path, I take it in stride.

So it doesn’t surprise me when superstitions or old wives tales appear more often than not in lakorns, as lakorns depict the culture and beliefs of the production team. In many lakorns I tend to shake my head by its attempts. In this weekend’s episodes of Game Rai Game Rak however, I learned that when used effectively, superstition could set a tone for what’s to come in a lakorn. And invariably, create chills and goose bumps among its viewers.

The signs that we see for Saichon and Nang Fah’s impending separation or “forever bad luck” only causes us more fear for the lovely couple. Like in ep4 when the elders said it was unlucky to see the bride the night before the wedding- but Saichon couldn’t help himself and sneaks off to see her. Or during their wedding ceremony when Saichon was in the process of giving his necklace to his new wife, the necklace fell into the murky water. Just then the witch doctor gets a vision of Saichon’s bloody face, his hand clasping the strand of necklace.

How about in ep 5 where Nang Fah keeps getting her fingers sliced either by the guitar string or the wooden sticks? Then during their annual float boat, hers came sailing back to her, setting off bad luck presumably for the rest of her life. It is no wonder Nang Fah is scared, so very scared. Hell I would be too. All of these signs mean only one thing; something bad is about to happen. Unfortunately, that something bad came sooner than later, as Yia-Sah leads five other men to abduct her from the island and tear her away from her beloved Saichon.

So in the end, is this a result of superstition or fate? Are they the same? Will things happen to you no matter what, even if you do your best to abide by the rules? Clearly, Saichon and Nang Fah’s fate is cleverly crafted by the writer. But what about you and me? At least for my own peace of mind, I shall steer clear of contradicting the old wives tales.

And on a different tangent, Game Rai Game Rak continues to pleasantly surprise me. The acting is compelling, the scenes heart-wrenching and the suspense invigorating. By the end of ep 6, we have ourselves in Bangkok where Nang Fah becomes Fahlada again. Saichon decides to leave the comfort of his home and all he knows- in search of his family, his life, his Nang Fah. I have enjoyed their innocent love in the islands and look forward to their journey to the big city and maturity.

Although our episodes are cut due to the flood in Thailand, I don’t feel jibbed at all by the progress Evil Game Love Game has made so far.

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📚📚An Indonesian bibliophile...crazy for books and poetry...John Donne's cheerleader than Shakespeare...disciple of Michel Foucault and Pierre Bourdieu...an avid book reader...and a book hoarder with super long reading list which is impossible to finish 📚📚